Blake School District
Board Policy

  BP 6158 
Instruction

 Independent Study

The Governing Board authorizes independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy for students, including adult education students, whose needs may be best met through study outside of the regular classroom setting.  Independent study shall offer a means of individualizing the educational plan and enabling students to reach curriculum objectives and fulfill graduation requirements. As necessary to meet student needs, independent study may be offered on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis in conjunction with part- or full-time classroom study.

(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6200 - Adult Education)

The Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee shall approve independent study for an individual student only upon determining that the student is prepared to meet the district's requirements for independent study and is likely to succeed in independent study as well as or better than he/she would in the regular classroom.

The minimum period of time for any independent study option shall be five school days.

The Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee shall ensure that a written independent study agreement, as prescribed by law, exists for each participating student.  (Education Code 51747)

To foster each participating student's success in independent study, the Board establishes the following maximum lengths of time which may elapse between the date an assignment is made and the date by which the student must complete the assigned work:

1.	One week for students in grades K-3
	
2.	Two weeks for students in grades 4-8

3.	Three weeks for students in grades 9-12, continuation or adult education

When circumstances justify a longer time, the Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee may extend the maximum length of an assignment to a period not to exceed eight weeks, pursuant to a written request with justification.

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17289 Exemption for facilities
42238 Revenue limits
44865  Qualifications for home teachers and teachers in special classes and schools; consent to assignment
46300-46300.6  Methods of computing ADA
47612.5 Independent study in charter schools
48204 Residency based on parent employment
48206.3 Home or hospital instruction; students with temporary disabilities
48220 Classes of children exempted
48340  Improvement of pupil attendance
48915 Expulsion; particular circumstances
48916.1 Educational program requirements for expelled students
48917 Suspension of expulsion order
51225.3  Requirements for high school graduation
51745-51749.3  Independent study programs
56026  Individuals with exceptional needs
FAMILY CODE
6550 Authorization affidavits
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
11700-11703 Independent study
COURT DECISIONS
Modesto City Schools v. Education Audits Appeal Panel, (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 1365

Management Resources:
CDE PUBLICATIONS
Independent Study Operations Manual, 2000 edition
WEB SITES
California Consortium for Independent Study: http://www.ccis.org
California Department of Education, Independent Study:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/is

(6/93  6/98)  3/05

Adopted:  January 2008